Text: Daniel 6

Dear Brethren,

"THEN THESE MEN ASSEMBLED AND FOUND DANIEL PRAYING AND MAKING SUPPLICATION BEFORE HIS GOD…" Daniel 6:11
Daniel's enemies had made a thorough study of him. They figured right. They would not be able to find fault with Daniel as far as his work was concerned. He was not a corrupt official. He did not take bribes. He did his work efficiently. The only "fault" they could ever hope to find in him was his fervent faith in his God.

They had "caught" Daniel in prayer. They rushed to the King to report that Daniel had infringed the recently introduced law of the Medes and Persians, which once passed could not be altered (Daniel 6:12).

"GREATLY DISPLEASED WITH HIMSELF…" Daniel 6:14
The King knew that he had been set up. He was caught by a law that he himself had passed. His ministers wanted him to apply the letter of the law. They approached the King and said,

"Know, O King, that it is the law
of the Medes and Persians,
that no decree or statute which the king
establishes may be changed."
Daniel 6:15

The king was angry with himself, and of course with this set of courtiers who had plotted against Daniel. He worked very hard to see if he could get around the law.

"The king… set his heart on Daniel
to deliver him;
and he laboured till the going down
of the sun to deliver him."
Daniel 6:14

But try as he might, he could not find a loophole in the law that could have allowed him to free Daniel from this trap laid by his enemies!

NO WAY OUT - EXCEPT FULL FAITH IN GOD
The King had to reluctantly give the order that Daniel be thrown into the lions' den. By way of comfort the king said to Daniel these significant words.

"Your God whom you serve continually,
He will deliver you."
Daniel 6:16

The King may not have been a believer himself, but he certainly had a great respect for Daniel's fervent faith in God. Does your faith in God impress anyone?

Prayerfully,                                                                             

Pastor Charlie

First released 19th August 2001, © Bethany Independent-Presbyterian Church, Singapore